Thermal heat exchange installation



May 9, 1961 A. HUET THERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE INSTALLATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1957 FIG. I

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I. I. I I f v I \v 1 1 4 M f u INVQNTOR: ANDRE HUET FIG. 5

Y E N m H A May 9, 1961 A. HUET THERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE INSTALLATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1957 INVEIIVTOR: ANDRE HUET A A ATTORNEY May 9, 1961 A. HUET THERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE INSTALLATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 11, 1957 FIG. 4

INVENTOR ANDRE HUET ATTORNEY 2,983,260- I r THERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE INST' TLATIONV Andr Huet, 48 Ave. du President Wilson, Paris, France Filed Dec. 11, 1957, Set. N6.' 702,04s p Claims priority, application France Dec. 17, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. 122-32 7 The present invention relates to stearn. generating apparatus and particularly to a multi-component economizer,

steam vaporizer and superheatingplant.

In thermal exchange installations, especially in those intended for the ultilization of heat released in nuclear reactors, it has been proposed to divide the installation into a large number of elementary heat exchangers, in order to permit to taking one or more components out of service without interfering with the functioning of the whole installation. As proposed by applicant, each of these components is in the form of a column, or duct casing enclosing the apparatus constituting the heat exchanger, whose heat absorbing surface must be traversed by the hot fluid leaving the reactor and entering the component from a big header. It is then necessary to arrange ,a relatively large number of these component columns in a restricted space, permitting, however, their individual mounting and dismounting. Furthermore, provision must be made for variable expansions for the diiferent'parts of the installation, such as an economizer or vaporizer, or a superheater; or a combination of these units.

An object'of this invention is an arrangement for the mounting of these columnar componentsin a manner intended to solve the problems to be faced, andthe characteristic of which consists in that the elements or columnar components are suspended and the interchangeable supporting beams aresolidly fixed to the big gas headers which offer great rigidity, while the other pipe lines have a small diameter and are very elastic.

In one embodiment the, components which are all identical with respect to the duct-casings and tubular connections thereto, are suspended in double rows, perpendicular to the general direction of thejheader or headers for the supply of thehot fluid provided at the upper part of the installation. rows of columnar componentsrests on a median beam extending transversely to the header, and actingalso to the header itself of whichv it is an interdependent part. The extremities of these beams, for their part, rest on the walls of theinstalllation by means of rollers or similar arrangementspermitting expansions,,especially in a direction. parallel to the exchanger or exchangers. The space betweenthe successive double rows issufiici'ent for the passage'of and manipulationof any component of the row at the time it is put into place or being removed. Sub-headers, transversely inserted in the main header or headers, .feed the columnar components of each double row, and these columns themselves are suspendedby flanges on the transverse cantilevers of'the supporting beam. Only at its lower part'the main return header is ela'stically supported by socketspermitting theexpansions of the columns to run in'vertical direction.

In accordance with another embodiment of'this' invention, instead of placing inside the casing of a columnar component a complete set of apparatus capable of pro- "ducing superheated steam from'the feedwater for; two

- United States Patent 1 ice 2 pressure stages, there are arranged inside of a component only the heat exchange apparatus necessary for a single pressure stage. Or still, there are arranged inside a component only economizer, or only evaporators or only superheaters of one pressure stage. This arrangement .makes it possible in an installation comprising a large number of components to group together, on one hand, all the columnar components comprising the economizers, and on the other hand, all components comprising the evaporators and finally all .those comprising the superheaters. All the components such constituting one group are, due to the apparatus which they contain being identical and due to the narrower temperature limits under which they function, subject to appreciably identical and more reduced expansions;

The following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings will afford 'a better understanding of the manner'in which this invention can be executed. v

Figure 1 shows schematically a unitary component according to the previous patents of the applicant and con1- prising the necessary economizer, vaporizer and superheater surfaces for obtaining two steam stages.

Figure 2 shows schematically a sub-division of such a component into five separate elements each containing only one or two of the economizer, vaporizer and superheater apparatus necessary for the same production of steam as the element shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows in perspective a part of an assembled installation embodying a plurality of columnar components of the type illustrated in Figure l;

Figure 4 shows in a vertical end-view two double rows of components. V

Figure 5 shows in perspective a grouping of columnar components of the types shown on Figure 2 in a thermal installation comprising a large number of elements.

There is shown in Figure 1 at the inside of the column or ductcasing 10 a series of heat absorbing elements of the type described in previous patents by the applicant. The duct 10 traversed by the hot fluid entering at the upper part as indicated by arrow A is discharged at the lower end as indicated by arrow B. The heat absorbing elements comprise two steam producing stages; one at low pressure with economizer 12, evaporator 14, superheater 16 and, the other at high pressure, with economizer 13, evaporator 15, and superheater 17. The feedwater is introduced at the lower part at 18, 19 and the steam outlets are at the upper part at 20, 21.

Each. of these double 1 As can be seen in Figure 3, the components as assembled have the form of tubular column-like casings to the, upper part of which the hot fluid is fed to pass downwardly through the columns and discharged at their lower ends. The numeral 22 designates the main header which conducts the hot fluid coming from the reactor. To both sides of this main header 22, sub-headers 24 are transversely fastened and arranged to f eed-the rows of columnar components. These are arranged in double,

rows and each double-row is supported by a median, transverse beam 26, which passes through the center of the double-row and which lies at 27 under the header columnar components 10 are suspended by means of studs or flanges 36 provided at the-top and on'both sides of component 10. The upper part of each component Figure 5.

aasaaeo is connected by means of a nipple 40 to a sub-header 24; this nipple 40 permits insertion of a valve or shutoff device.

The suspensionof componentsltl by means of flanges 36 between two cantilevers is accomplished in such mannerxthat it is possible to shift a, coiumnar component 19. in two perpendicular directions to make it possible during erection to bring into position the upper opening 41 of each components 10 with nipple 40. At their lower part the components 10 are connected by nipples 42 tothe sub-header 44 which is fastened to the hot fluid return-header 46,. This header 46 is supported by means of cradles 48 which are mounted elastically, enabling them, to follow the expansions of the header in such manner as to allow expansions in vertical directions of all the components 10. These cradles 48 can slide in the direction of the axis of the header. It will be noted that each double row of elements has only one returnheader 46 (on account of the decrease in temperature of the fluid leaving the elements) which ensures at the lower part a connection ensuring the equahdistance of the elements located vis-a-vis in a double row.

The assembly takes expansions of the header 22 in the direction of its axis into account due to the capacity of beams 26 to slide on the ledges 3t), 32 of walls 33. On the other hand, the expansion in vertical direction is absorbed by the elasticity of cradles 48 under header 46; columnar components 10 furthermore being simply suspended by means of flanges 36 on cantilevers 35.

The space between two successive double rows C, D is such as to make it possible to put vertically, by means of a traveling craneor any other means, each columnar component 10 into the place which it has to occupy ll]: the double row and, eventually, to remove it from t ere.

In order to remove a component it suflices tocut away or break the welds at 41 at its upper part, and at 43 at the lower part the element in question and to extract it by flanges 36 leaving it in vertical position. When putting the component into place again, the possibility of slightly shifting flanges 36 in two vertical directions on the surface of cantilevers 35 permits to bring opening 4-1 in the exact position in relation to nipple to which it then has again to be welded.

As can be seen from Figure 4, water intakes 18, 19 are foreseen at the lower part, two for each element, and steam outlets 20, 21 at the upper part, likewise in the number of two, and connected to main steam outlet headers 49. Instead of, or in addition to one single inlet header 22, it would be possible to foresee two headers at the ends of beams 26 so as to adjust the shifting due to expansions. It would even be possible to foresee more than one outlet header 49.

As shown in Figure 2, instead of grouping various heat absorbing apparatus in one component It) as in Figure l, the heat exchange elements are distributed among five separate units 50-54 in which are arranged respectively low pressure economizer 12b in unit 50, low pressure evaporator 140 in unit 51, low pressure superheater 16d and high pressure economizer 132 in unit 52, the high pressure evaporator 15] in unit 51 and finally the high pressure superheater 17g in unit 54. Elements 50 to 54 are traversed in the direction of the arrows by the hot fluid entering a A and leaving at B.

In order to assemble the heat exchange installation comprising a large number of elements of this type, there are grouped together separately in five separate panels all components 54, all components 53, all components 52, all components 51 and all components 50, as shown on In each panel, components 54 for instance,

are fed in parallel from pipe line on, which supplies the hot fluid, and to which they are connected at the upper part. Fluid from their lower parts is collected in pipe line 62 which leads to pipe line 64 which feeds in parallel" all components 53 and so on .up to the hseating fluid discharge which is efiected through pipe inc 6.

The advantage of this arrangement consists in that, as has been stated, the heat absorbing elements within each component 54, etc. of each group only contain identical apparatus, having to function between narrower temperature limits than those of the arrangement shown on Fig ures, l and 3. The expansion of the assembled apparatus ofthe same panel of components 54 for instance, is then nearly the same and especially far more reduced in all directions of the panel, i.e. in the vertical direction as well as in the horizontal direction, It then becomes possible to assemble the panel in a safer manner, for instance, as shown on Figure 5, on a common beam 26A with support rollers 34A, permitting the expansion to run out.

It stands to reasonthat modifications in detail could be applied to the execution of this invention, without therefore exceeding its scope.

- essary for the production of one or several steam stages,

could be other than that given as example. It would be possible to group in one element; economizer and evap orator on one side, and a superheater on the other side, or any other combination.

What I claim is:

1. In multi-component heat exchanger; a plurality of heat exchange'components comprising columnar ducts with connections at opposite ends for admitting. and discharging ;a heating fluid and each containing heatexchange surface in the form of economizer vaporizing or superheating elements with said columnar duct components arranged in parallel rows; inlet sub-headers for the heating fluid located above and extending parallelly above each row of columnar duct components; tubular nipples connecting each sub-header to said columnar duct components alined therewith; support beams extending between the rows of headers and each formed with a row of cantilever bars located in positions at the ends of the rows of columnar components and. in between the latter to provide support members at opposite sides of a columnar duct component; stud members extending lateral- .ly from opposite sides of each columnar duct component tending transversely of said sub-headers and connected in circuit therewith; roller support members between the end of each beam and the wall carried support members so that the beams are freely movable in directions parallel to said main supply and discharge headers; outlet sub-headers for the heating fluid located below and parallel to the rows of columnar duct components; nipples connecting said outlet headers to the lower ends of the columnar heat exchange components disposed in the rows adjacent said sub-headers; and elastically supported cradle members freely supporting said main discharge header for free movement with said assembly of columnar ducts in directions paralleling the longitudinal axis .of said main supply header.

tending parallelly above a row of columnar components ing each sub-header at its underside to said tubular components alined therewith; support beams integrally connected with said inlet header and extending parallelly to the rows of columnar heat exchange components and each formed with cantilever bars extending from 'opposite sides thereof at the ends of the rows of columnar heat exchange components and between the components to provide support members at each side of a tubular component; stud members extending laterally from opposite sides of each tubular component near the upper end thereof resting freely on cantilever bars at each side of the related columnar component; housing walls for said exchanger having on their opposite interior faces support members extending transversely of the row of said support beams below the ends of the beams; roller ing said last mentioned sub-headers to the lower ends of the columnar heat exchange components disposed in v the rows adjacent said sub-headers; cradle members free- 1y supporting said outlet main header for free movement with said assembly of components in directions paralleling the longtudinal axis of said main supply header.

3. A heat exchange assembly as recited in claim 1 in which each columnar heat exchange component contains the required elements of heat absorbing surface for the complete transformation of a liquid such as water into a superheated vapor such as steam.

4. A heat exchange assembly as recited in claim 2 in which said columnar heat exchange components are suspended and arranged in double rows with the spaces between two successive double rows being wide enough to permit individual components to be moved thereinto from a row at either side of the space and removed endwise from the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

